Method and apparatus for making rubber masks and similar articles



p 1942- M. E. HANSEN I 2,296,105

METHOD vAND APPARATUS FOR MAKING RUBBER MASKS AND SIMILAR ARTICLES Filed July 5, 1940 Z Sheets-Sheet l mfDL JYEEHZ/Z 52352-25527 P 15, 19424 M. E. HANSEN METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR MAKING RUBBER MAsKs AND SIMILAR ARTICLES Filed July 5, 1940 2 Sheets-Sheet z mime.

Jamey/5152775527 I Patented Sept- 1,5,

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE I 'zm,105.

LIETHOD AND APPARATUS FOR 'MAKING RUBBER MASKS AND Sm ARTICLES eflillEHansemAkrdn, hio,assignortoAmerican Anode Ina, Akron, Ohio, a corporation of Delaware oam-.1 appuumnawif a. mo. Serial No.

.331. Divided and: flill application July 5,

This invention relates to covering the nose and mouth ofthe wearer and particularly to vented an apparatus and perfected a method for I making these nose and mouth masks in a simple. economical and eiIicient manner.

Generally, thenose and mouth mask that is the subject of thisinvention comprises a nose \covering portion, a mouth covering portion, a voice transmitting means associated with the mouth covering portion. a d abreathing tube associated with the mouth covering portion. To make these masks I provide a principal deposition form comprising a bulbous portion and a ring-like structure, and ,a complementary form adapted to matingly'flt the ring-like structure of the principal form. I cover the two forms separately with individual coatings of rubber as by dipping them in a coagulant solution for latex (such as any of those disclosed in U. 8. Patent No.

1,996,090, granted April 2, 1935, to Edward A. Will-. son) and then dipping in latex. The forms are I then fitted together in their mating relationship and coated with an overall layer of rubber by the same method. The forms are removed from the rubber deposits and the article is trimmed to produce the completed mask.

The various procedural steps used in the manufacturing operations. as -well as the apparatus used and the resulting product of this invention can best be understood by reference to the accoinpanying drawings, of which Fig. 1 is an elevation of the principal deposition form mounted on a support and immersed in a body of latex;

Fig. 2 is an elevation of the complementary deposition form mounted on a support and immersed in abody of latex;

Fig. 3 is a cross-sectional elevation. of the rubber coated forms assembled in mating relationship and immersed in a body of latex;

Fig. 4 is an elevation of the apparatus of o invention coated over-all with rubber and with a portion of the rubber broken away for clarity of illustration; v

Fig. 7 is an elevation illustrating the removal of a portion of the principal form from the rubber coating;

Fig. 8 is an elevation in profile of the nose and mouth mask of this invention;

M Fig. 9 is a rear elevation of the nose and mouth mask of this invention; 1

Fig. 10 is across-sectional elevation of the nose and mouth mask of this invention taken alon line alt-ll of Fig. 9 with a preferred voice-transmitting means in place;

Fig. 11 is a cross-sectional elevation of the two.

projecting portions of the nose and mouth masks showing specifically a modified form of voicetransmitting means.

In manufacturing the nose and mouth masks of this invention, I use an apparatus on which rubber is deposited from latex and this apparatus comprises two forms, one a principal form 20 and the other a complementary form 2!. The principal form Ill comprises a bulbous portion 22, with two rod-like arms projecting from spaced apart points on the bulbous portion and merging to form a ring-like structure 23 lying in a concave plane. Also, a fin-like portion 24 is provided on the bulbous portion 22 oppositeto and projecting away from the ring-like structure 23.

The principalform 20 constitutes two elements (Fig. 4) joined, as with dowel pins, at two points 30, 3| lying in a planar relationship on the ringlike structure 23 to form a unitary structure with bne point ll adjacent the bulbous portion 22 and the other point 30 opposite the bulbous portion. The complementary form ii is adapted to matingly fit the ring-like structure 23 of the principal form 20 and comprises an element 25 with a concave, surface 28 and a convex surface 21.

The convex surface has two projecting portions 34 and II. The projecting portion 34 is cylindrically shaped and located near the hollowed out portion of the periphery. The other projecting portion ii is generally cylindrical and is provided with at least one circumferentially raised section 52. The complementary form II has a generally elliptical outline with a substantial portion or the periphery 28 hollowed out to flt. 66 the ring-like structure II. The remainder of the periphery 28 is generally flattened as indicated at 29 to fit the bulbous portion 22 of the principal form 20 between the rod-like arms that constitute the ring structure 23.

In a preferred method of practicing this invention the principal form 20 is mounted on a support 32 with the ring structure 23 directed upward so as to lessen the danger of the ring structure accidentally becoming separated at the points of joinder 30, 3|. The complementary form 2| is mounted on a support 33 through the rod-like projecting portion 34. The two forms are coated with rubber as by dipping in a latex coagulant and in latex. The two forms are then arranged in mating relationship and dipped again (Fig. 3). The complementary form 2| fits in the ring-like structure 23 forming a compact assembly. The rubber is then washed and dried on the forms, after which the rubber deposit is cut around the fiat back of the bulbous portion 22 and fin portion at and also around the ring structure 23 on the convex side 36. The ring structure is broken loose into its two elements 31, 38 by pulling the elements apart. The bulbous portion with its attached arm of the ring portion 37 is removed and then the complementary form 2! is removed by pushing it out through the back and through the ring-like rubber deposit 39, after which the rest of the ring structure 38 is removed from the rubber article.

After the forms 2B, 2! are removed the rubber is trimmed tround the bulbous portion, the section of rubber (it between the bulbous portion and the complementary form is cut out, the ends of the projecting portions are trimmed ofi, and the rubber article is vulcanized. The edge around the bulbous portion 33 is then smoothed to a feather edge ti as by bufiing with a bumng wheel 42. (Fig. 10).

The resulting nose and mouth mask proper as shown in Figs. 8 and 9 is a unitary integral structure made up of one continuous piece of rubber. The mask comprises a bulbous portion d3 adapted to fit over the nose, a tubular cushion at that fits the face around the mouth, and a portion 35 to cover the mouth. on this mouth covering portion t5 are two projecting portions,

one'of which is tubular 56 located adjacent the tubular cushion and serves as a means for admitting oxygen to the wearer of the mask. This breathing tube may be located at any point on the mask, such as projecting from the tubular cushion, in which case the oxygen would be led through the breathing tube and the tubular cushion into the interior of the mask. The other projecting portion ii! is generally tubular but with at least one section 68 internally recessed circumferentially to hold the voice transmitting means. This voice transmitting means is preferably a disc of sponge rubber 49 (Fig. 10) which may or maynot be cemented or otherwise adhered to the walls of the tubular portion. As an alternate means for voice transmission, the tubular projection may be closed with an integral rubber diaphragm 50 formed as a continuation of the rubber walls of the tubular portion as shown in Fig. 11. Preferably, although not necessarily, the rubber diaphragm as well as the preferred sponge rubber disc voice transmitting means are located a substantial distance back from the outer end of the tubular projection as shown in Figs. 10 and 11 in order that the voice transmitting means shall be effectively protected from contacting other objects, such as a microphone held by the aviator, which would interfere with satisfactory sound transmission. This spacing feature is especially important in the diaphregnembodiment of Fig. 11.

It is understood that although the apparatus, method of making; and resulting nose and mouth mask have been described in considerable detail with reference to the accompanying drawings, many variations/may be effected in all such details. without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims. I

This application is a division of my copending application Serial No. 328,331, filed April 6, 1940.

I claim:

1. A method of making rubber articles comprising providing a principal deposition form comprising a ring-like structure, coating the principal form with rubber, providing a complementary form adapted to matingly fit the ringlike structure of the principal form, coating the complementary form with rubber, associating the coated principal and complementary forms in mating relationship with the complementary form closing the opening in the ring-like structure of the principal form, and coating the assembled structure with rubber.

2. A method of making nose and mouth masks comprising providing a principal deposition form comprising a bulbous portion with two rod-like arms projecting from spaced apart points on the bulbous portion merging to form a ring-like structure, providing a complementary deposition form adapted to matingly fit the ring-like structure of the principal form and comprising an element with a concave surface and a convex surface having a generally elliptical outline with a substantial portion of the periphery hollowed out to fit the ring-like structure of the principal deposition form, dipping the principal form in an aqueous dispersion of rubber, dipping the complementary form in an aqueous dispersion of rubber, associating the complementary form with the principal form in mating relationship with the hollowed out periphery of the complementary form embracing the arms of the ring-like structure and the complementary form closing the opening in the ring-like structure of the principal form, and dipping the assembled structure in an aqueous dispersion of rubber to give a unitary overall deposit of rubber; and drying and vulcanizing the deposited layers of rubber.

3. A method of making nose and mouth masks comprising providing a principal deposition form comprising a bulbous portion with tworod-like arms projecting from spaced apart points on the bulbous portion and merging to form a ring-like structure lying in a concave plane, providing a complementary form adapted to matingly fit the principal form and comprising an element with a concave surface and a convex surface, said complementary form having a generally elliptical outline with a substantial riphery hollowed out to fit the ring-like structure of the principal form and with the remainder of the periphery generally flattened to fit the area of the bulbous portion of the principal form between the rod-like arms, coating the principal form with latex rubber, coating the complementary form with latex rubber, associating the' sembled apparatus with latex rubber to give a portion of the peunitary overall deposit of rubber, and drying and vulcanizing the rubber deposits.

4. A method of making nose and mouth masks which comprises providing a principal deposi 1y fit the ring-like structure of the principal form and comprising a member with a concave surface and a convex surface, said complementary form having a generally elliptical outline with a substantial portion of the periphery hollowed out to at the ring-like structure of the principal form and with the remainder of the periphery generally flattened to "fit the area of the bulbous portion between the rod-like arms, a cylindricallyshaped projecting portion on the convex surface adjacent thehollowed out portion of the periphery, and a second cylindrically-shaped projecting portion adjacent the flat portion of the periphery. said second projecting portion comprising at least one circumferentially raised section, immersing the principal deposition form in latex, immersing the complementary deposition form in latex, associating the complementary form in mating relationship with the principal form, immersing the associated forms in latex to produce an overall coating of rubber, drying the rubber deposits and removing the forms from the rubber deposit by cutting around the back section of the bulbous portio separating the principal deposition form into its two elements at the points of joinure on the ring-like portion, removing thehulbous portion and the attached rod-like arm through the cutsection, cutting a second opening around the deposited rubber at the ring-like structure on the convex side of the ring-like structure, rzmoving the complementary form through this op ning, and removing the remainder of the ring-like structure through the cut section on the back of the bulbous portion.

5. Apparatus for making nose and mouth masks comprising a principal deposition form comprising a ring-like structure and a complementary-deposition form adapted to matingly fit the ring-like structure of the principal iorm, said complementary form including a continuous sur face substantially co-extensive with the opening in the ring-like structure of the principal form whereby, in the assembled apparatus,rthe complementary form substantially closes the opening in the ring-like structure of the principal form.

6. Apparatus for making nose and mouth masks comprising a principal deposition form comprising abulbous portion with two rod-like arms projecting from spaced apart points on the bulbous portion and merging to form a ringlike structure. and a complementary deposition form adapted to matingly at the ring+like structure of the principal deposition form and comprising an-elementwitha'concave surface and a convex surface having a generally ellipticaloutline with a substantial portionof the periphery hollowed out to nt the ring-likestructure of the principal deposition form.

7. Apparatus for making nose and mouth masks comprising a principal deposition form 5 comprising a bulbous portion with two-rod-like arms projectingdrom spaced apart points on the bulbous portion and merging to form a ringlike structure lying in a concave plane, and a complementary form adapted to matingly iit the i0 principal form and comprising an element with a concave surface and a convex surface, said complementary form having a generally elliptical outline with a substantial portion of the periphery hollowed out to flt the ring-like structure of the principal form and with the remainder of the periphery generally flattened to fit the area of the bulbous portion of the principal form between the, rod-like arms.

8. Apparatus for makingnose and mouth masks comprising a principal deposition form comprising a bulbous portion with two rod-like arms projecting from spaced apart points on the bulbous portion and merging to form a ring-like structure lying in a concave plane, a nn-like portion on the bulbous portion opposite to and projecting generally away from the ring-like structure. and a complementary form adapted to matingly fit the ring-like structure of the principal form and comprising an element with a concave surface and a convexsurface. said complementary form having a generally elliptical outline with a substantial portion of the periphery hollowed out to fit the ring-like structure of the principal form and with the remainder of the periphery generally flattened to fit the bulbous portion in the area between the rod-like arms; the apparatusbeing capable of being assembled with-the concave surface or the complementary form next the ringlike structure of the principailform and the convex surface of the complementary form away from the ring-like structure of the principal form.

' 9. Apparatus for making nose and mouth masks comprising a principal deposition form comprising a bulbous portion with two rod-like arms projecting from spaced apart points on the bulbous portion and merging to form a ring-like structure lying in a concave plane, ,a fin-.llke portion on the bulbous portion opposite to and projecting generally away from the ring-like-stmcture, said principalform comprising two elements separably'joined at two points lying in a planar relationship on the ring-like structure to form a unitary structure with one point adjacent the bulbous portion and the other point opposite the bulbous portion, and a complementary form adapted to matingly iit thering-like structure of the principal form and comprising a member with a concave surface and a convex surface, said complementary form having a generally elliptical outline with a substantial portion of the periphery hollowed out to fit the ring-like structure or the principal form and :with the remainder of the periphery generally flattened to fit the area of the 5 bulbous, portion between the rod-like arms, a

cylindrically-shaped projecting portion on the convex surface adjacent the hollowed out portion of the periphery, and a second project ng portion adjacent the'flat portion of the periphery, said second projecting portion comprising at least one circumferentialiy raised sectiontthe apparatus being capable'of being assembled with themcave surface of. the complementary form next the ring-like structureoftheprincipalformandtheconvex surface with the projecting portions away 'likestructureofthe from the ring-like structure of the principal form.

10. A method of making nose and mouth masks comprising providing a principal deposition form comprising a bulbous portion with two rod-like arms projecting Irom spaced apart points on the bulbous portion and merging to form a ringlike structure lying in a concave plane, a fin-like portion on the bulbous portion opposite to and projecting generally away from the ring-like structure, providing a complementary depostiion iorm adapted to matingly fit the ring-like struc-' ture of the principal form, coating the principal form with latex rubber, coating the complemen= tary form with latex rubber, associating the coated complementary form with the coated principal form in mating relationship with the complementary form closing the ope in in the ringprincipal form, and coating the assembled structure with latex rubber.

11. A method of making nose and mouth masks comprising providing a principal deposition form associating the two elements inmating relationship with the second element substantially closing theopening in the ring-like element, coating the assembled elements with rubber to form a unitary structure, removing a portion of the wall constituting one face of the bulbous portion of the first said element, and removing a portion of the wall constituting one face of the said second element in the region within the ring-like element.

' 13. A. method of making a mask or similar article which comprises producing a rubber element including a hollow bulbous portion and a curved tubular portion communicating, with the comprising a bulbous portion with two rod-like arms projecting from spaced apart points on the bulbous portion and merging o form a ring-like structure lying in a concave plane, said principal form comprising two elements separately joined at two points lying in a planar relationship on the ring-like structure to form a unitary structure, providing a complementary deposition form adapted to matingly fit the ring-like structure of the principal form and comprising an element with a concave surface and a convex surface, said complementaryform having a generally elliptical outline with a substantial portion or the periphery hollowed out to flt the ring-like structure of the principal form and with the remainder of the periphery generally flattened out to lit the area or the bulbous portion of the principal form be- .tween the rod-like arms, immersing the principal deposition form in latex, immersing the complementary deposition. form in latex, associating the mznplementary form in mating relationship with principal torm. immersing the associated forms in latex to produce an overall coating of rubber, drying the rubber deposits and removing the forms from the rubber deposit by cutting around the back section of the bulbous portion, separating the principal deposition form into its two elements at the points or join-ure on the ring-like portion, removing the bulbous portionand the sections of attached rod-like arms through the cut section, cutting a second opening around the deposited rubber at the ring-like structure on the convex side of the ring-like structure, removing the complementary form through this opening, and removing the remainder of the ringlike structure through the cut section on the back of the bulbous portion.

12. A method of making a mask or similar article which comprises producing a rubber( element including a hollow bulbous portion and a curved tubular portion communicating with the bulbous portion to provide a ring-like hollow rubber element, producing a second hollow rubberelement having an exterior configuration adapt- 65 ed to mate with the aforesaid ring-like element,

stantially closing the opening in the ring-like.

element, coating the assembled elements with rubber to form a unitary structure and removing a substantial portion of the wall of said structure to provide an opening therein for receiving facial portions of a person wearing the mask. I

14. A method of making a mask or similar article which comprises producing a hollow rubber element having a ring-like configuration, produc ing a second hollow rubber element havingan exterior configuration adapted to mate with the aforesaid ring-like element, associating the two elements in mating relationship, coating the assembled elements with rubber to provide a unitary structure, and removing a substantial portion of the wall of said structure to provide an opening for receiving facial portions of a person wearing the mask.

15. A method of making a mask or similar article which comprises producing a hollow rubber element having a ring-like conflguration, producing a second hollow rubber element having an exterior configuration adapted to mate with the aforesaid ring-like element, associating the two elements in mating relationship and bonding them together to provide a unitary structure, and removing a substantial portion of the wall of said structure to provide an opening for of both the constituent elements to provide an opening for receiving facial portions of a person wearing the mask.

MERRE-L E. HANSEN. 

